Punishments for cycling deaths - Fitting?

After reading this news article, I asked myself if the punishments meted out are fitting to the crimes? 2 cyclist died with their inconsideration and actions. When will our government start to have policies which will protect other road users? The headline looked so severe..a paltry fine, a one week jail and driving bans? Seriously?

  2 drivers banned over cyclists' deaths

SINGAPORE - Two motorists who caused the deaths of cyclists were slapped with driving bans on Wednesday. Contractor Wang Boon Tat alias Siriphet Nophanan, 21, was switching lanes when his van hit Mr Salleh Ali's power-assisted bicycle, flinging the victim to the pavement. He stopped his van and went to help the 57-year-old victim, who was conscious but unable to talk. The injured man was taken to hospital where he died six days later of heart disease after suffering head injuries in the accident. A district court heard Wang had wanted to switch from the centre lane to the extreme left lane of Bedok South Road on Nov 19, 2011. He could not overtake Mr Salleh, who was in the far left lane, on the right as there were other vehicles so he tried to go around him on the left. Wang did not sound his horn. He pleaded guilty to causing Mr Salleh's death, and was jailed for a week and banned from driving for five years. In another case on Wednesday, polytechnic lecturer Lai Mun Wai, 32, was given the maximum fine of $1,000 after he admitted driving without due care and attention when he hit a cyclist, who later died. He was banned from driving for four months. The court heard Lai was behind the wheel with his brother in the front passenger seat when the latter saw the cyclist. He shouted, but it was too late. Lai hit the cyclist, Mr Liu Jianting, 18, who was flung into the air and landed on the grass verge at the central island in Hougang Avenue 3 on Feb 27 last year. Mr Liu died from severe head injuries four days later.

Source:. Damn it....pisses me off, I am going cycling...going to bring my bright red Ferrari bike out for a spin. Ride safe everyone!

Dooring

Dooring with Mr Brown....Another important tip on safe cycling in Singapore

Just wanna ride tee

Came across this in a mall in Malacca.

Fold-able bikes allowed on Public Transport in Singapore

Not all bikes are allowed on board public transportation in Singapore. Only foldable bikes are, leading to their recent popularity, with even many people bringing them overseas for a ride.
These are the times allowed on SMRT Trains and Buses for our foldable bikes on public transport in Singapore.

For the comfort of all passengers, your foldable bicycle can be carried onboard during the following times when our trains and buses are less crowded:

Mondays to Fridays, 9.30am - 4.00pm

Mondays to Fridays, 8.00pm to the end of passenger service, and

Weekends and Public Holidays: all day.

So now, many can cycle their bikes to train stations and carry them along. Too bad based on the above timings, noone can still cycle to work during office hours.

Really? Singapore?

Expert: Reasonably safe to cycle here
Cycling in Singapore is reasonably safe as drivers here are more courteous towards cyclists as compared to drivers in the United States, said urban-planning expert Earl Bossard yesterday.

Dr Bossard, from the San Jose State University in California, was invited to speak here by the Singapore Institute of Planners on how bicycle paths can be effective infrastructure in urban settings.

He has been in Singapore since last Friday and cycled at locations including East Coast, Changi, Tampines and Punggol.

He told My Paper in a phone interview that in the US, drivers tend to be less tolerant and aware of cyclists than in Singapore, "maybe because the drivers here are more used to congested conditions".

Cycling and the safety issues surrounding it have been in the spotlight following an accident at a Tampines junction last Monday, in which two boys were killed after a cement-mixer truck collided with the bicycle they were on.

Dr Bossard suggested that Singapore learn from the Netherlands, which has cars parked between moving cars and cycling tracks, so that cyclists have a "safe channel" along which to get around.

He also suggested building cycling tracks under above-ground train lines, which would protect cyclists from the elements.

Dr Bossard praised Singapore's park-connector network, saying that they offer safer paths for cycling.